News roundup: the top stories at midday

**The top local and international news stories at midday:**

.....

**Gilmore** hopes banking inquiry will be set up quickly.

**Chief executives** more confident on global economy in 2014.

**Irish spending** on Visa cards reaches record €21 billion.

.....

**Mincon founders** to give €1.2 million to staff.

**Great Western Mining** raises £1.5 million in share placing.

.....

**Euro zone debt** falls for first time in six years in Q3.

**British unemployment** drops to 7.1 ...